P R Sreejesh takes jibe at Kerala govt as none congratulated hockey team after winning gold in Asian Games

KOCHI: Taking a jibe at the Kerala Government, Indian hockey player P R Sreejesh said none congratulated them after winning the gold medal in the Asian Games. He said Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose was the only person who came home to congratulate after winning the gold medal in the Asian Games held in China. Not a single person called on behalf of the state government after winning the medal. Why saying more not even a panchayat member came home, he said.

‘Only Governor of Bengal came home. Happy that he came. It has been three or four days since we returned after winning gold in the Asian Games. So far no one has contacted from the state government. Even the panchayat president did not come to see me. So should expect only that. This neglect that we all face is something that tomorrow's generation will learn. As far as they are concerned, even winning a medal in the Asian Games does not mean much in their hometowns. This mindset will discourage them. The Haryana government is giving Rs 3 crore to the gold medal winners of the Asian Games,’ Sreejesh said.

When Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik visited his hockey teammate Amit Rohidas the other day, he immediately handed over a check of Rs 1.5 crore. All this is their motivation, he said.

India won the gold medal after defeating Japan in the finals. Sreejesh's strong performance after stopping Japan's crucial shots helped India defeat them by five goals against one. With the gold in the Asian Games, the Indian men's hockey team also secured direct qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics.